In a significant counter-insurgency operation in Chhattisgarh, security forces have neutralised 18 Maoists, while three jawans of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) were martyred. The encounter, which took place on Wednesday in Bijapur district, saw the recovery of six more Maoist bodies on Thursday, bringing the total count to 18.
Details of the Encounter and Casualties
The fierce gunfight erupted at 9 am on Wednesday in the forest areas of Potenar and Kachilwar in Bijapur. A joint team comprising the DRG from Bijapur and Dantewada, the Special Task Force (STF), and the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) was involved in the operation, which was launched based on specific intelligence about Maoist presence.
Apart from the three jawans who lost their lives, four other security personnel were injured. They were swiftly airlifted to Raipur for advanced medical treatment and are now reported to be out of danger.
Identity of Neutralised Maoists and Recoveries
Officials confirmed that out of the 18 Maoists killed, 16 have been identified. These individuals carried a cumulative reward of Rs 1.30 crore on their heads. While 13 were from Bijapur district, three hailed from neighbouring Sukma.
A critical detail emerged that 15 of the identified Maoists belonged to Company No. 2 of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), the armed wing of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist). The remaining one was from Company No. 7. An official stated, "Some component of Company 7 is left, but we will neutralise them if they do not surrender."
Among the deceased were two members of the Maoists' divisional committee, which is the second-highest state-level body in their organisational structure.
The security forces made substantial recoveries from the encounter site, including:
- Ten automatic weapons: 1 Light Machine Gun (LMG), 4 AK-47 rifles, 4 7.62 Self Loading Rifles (SLRs), 1 5.56 INSAS rifle.
- Other firearms: 2 .303 rifles, 4 single shot rifles, 2 indigenously made Barel Grenade Launchers (BGL), and 1 muzzle-loading rifle.
- Additional items: A radio, scanner, multimeter, hand grenades, safety fuse, Maoist literature, pouches, uniforms, and medical supplies.
Notorious History of the Neutralised PLGA Unit
Bijapur Superintendent of Police Jitendra Kumar Yadav highlighted the violent history of PLGA's Company No. 2, linking it to several major attacks on security forces and political leaders over the past decade.
The unit was involved in the deadly Jhiram Ghati attack in 2013, which resulted in the death of 32 people, including senior state Congress leaders like Mahendra Karma and Nand Kumar Patel.
Other major incidents attributed to this unit include:
- The 2020 Minpa ambush in Sukma district, where 17 security personnel were killed.
- The 2021 Tekalgudem attack in Bijapur, which claimed the lives of 22 security personnel.
- The 2019 Keshkutul ambush that led to the death of two CRPF jawans and a girl.
- The 2024 Dharmavaram police camp attack, where 12 jawans were injured.
The operation marks a significant blow to the Maoist infrastructure in the Bastar region, particularly against one of their most active and dangerous armed units.
